A new book, curated by hip-hop scene legend DJ Semtex, brings together shots from over 40 years of rap music. This is Lauryn Hill, shot by Eric Johnson, whose photography also features on the artwork for her album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill and its singles.
Hip-Hop Raised Me is out now, published by Thames & Hudson

Notorious BIG in Paddington in London. ‘Having woken him up,’ recalls photographer Eddie Otchere, ‘we walked him into the car park of the hotel, and against the west London skyline this image was shot and captured ... I’ve no doubt he’d only had a few hours’ sleep and, 20 minutes after being in bed, here he is in is Coogi, Versace and Kangol’

Jay Z. ‘He’s now hosting MTV shows and he’s on the rise,’ says Otchere. ‘His team is in place and business is growing. For a few days, I documented his work schedule. With an operation behind him, Jay was carrying a lot of responsibilities, but also being carried by his team. I wanted to see him framed by his team on a sports field and again depict our Brooklynite becoming a leader’

Pharrell during N*E*R*D’s 2002 In Search Of… US tour. As well as making hundreds of boundary-pushing productions for the likes of Jay Z, Kelis, Clipse and Justin Timberlake, he went on to enjoy a successful solo career

Public Enemy at Manchester Apollo theatre in 1988. In the center are Chuck D, Terminator X and Flavor Flav; second from the left is Hip Hop Raised Me author DJ Semtex. Members of Security of the First World stand either side of the doors to the venue